Psychology and Mental Health Practice: A Crisis of Leadership

Strong organizational leadership is widely recognized as an essential feature of successful organizations. While formal leadership training and educational programs have been embedded within many disciplines, the mental health and psychology fields have historically neglected the traditional aspects of leadership. Moreover, the lack of appropriate selection mechanisms for identifying qualified leadership candidates has resulted in a void of leadership and a failure to promote and foster professional growth that would turn the most talented individuals into successful leaders. The purpose of this brief report is to reflect on current leadership and promotion practices within psychology and mental health and provide recommendations for addressing this issue.